Patents Examined by Lela S Williams
  • Patent number: 10111555
    Abstract: A chocolate beverage composition is provided having a white, non-discolored foam on its surface. The chocolate beverage composition includes a foaming creamer and discrete, substantially non-powdered cocoa solids. The composition may be suitable for forming a beverage on the addition of a hot or cold liquid. The composition may also include a sweetening agent, a flavoring agent, a thickener, or a whitener. A beverage dispensing container of the beverage composition is also provided and may be in the form of a cartridge, sachet, pod or capsule and may be used with a beverage dispensing machine. Methods of forming the beverage composition are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.
    Inventors: Claire Elizabeth Macaulay, Sandra Heraud
  • Patent number: 10099848
    Abstract: A food or beverage capsule (200), comprises: •a capsule body (201) comprising a cavity (202) and an open end (204) in communication with the cavity (202); •an injection wall (205) disposed upon the open end (204) so as to enclose the cavity (202), the injection wall (205) thereby comprising an interior side (206) facing the cavity (202); and •a quantity of a food or beverage ingredient disposed within the cavity (202). The capsule (200) further comprises a sealing membrane (207) fabricated from a flexible material and disposed upon the interior side (206) of the injection wall (205), the sealing membrane (207) being attached to the interior side (206) of the injection wall (205) over at least one fixed region (208) of the sealing membrane (207), at least one free region (209) of the sealing membrane (207) extending freely from an edge of said at least one fixed region (208).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Christophe Heydel, Christian Talon
  • Patent number: 10093480
    Abstract: A beverage brewing product for brewing a sweetened beverage is disclosed which produces a sweetened beverage solution that can be mixed with a diluting liquid and which comprises at least one water permeable sieve wherein beverage material and granulated sweetener are contained. The beverage material and sweetener are brewed and dissolved during steeping in hot water to produce a sweetened beverage solution. The beverage solution, if concentrated, is then mixed with a proportioned amount of diluting liquid to make a consistently sweet beverage. This beverage brewing product may be used to produce a variety of consistently sweetened beverages, including tea, coffee, lemonade, and other sweetened beverages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Alan Stewart, Adam Paul Stewart
  • Patent number: 10045656
    Abstract: A beverage preparation system is provided comprising a beverage preparation machine, a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients, and a coded insert. The beverage preparation machine comprises a brew head for receiving the cartridge. The cartridge comprises a primary code configured to provide operating instructions to the beverage preparation machine for delivering a beverage from the cartridge. The coded insert is separate from the cartridge and insertable along with the cartridge into the brew head. The coded insert comprises a secondary code configured to provide alternative operating instructions to the beverage preparation machine for delivering a modified beverage from the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.
    Inventors: Simon Carr, Sandra Heraud
  • Patent number: 10039295
    Abstract: A method of flash pasteurizing a liquid product before the product is filled includes preheating the product for flash pasteurization, correction cooling the flash pasteurized product, and intermediately storing cooling water heated in the correction cooling of the flash pasteurized product. Waste heat obtained during at least one of a cooling of filled-in product or a recooling of not filled-in product is supplied to the intermediately stored cooling water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Volker Richter, Torsten Runge, Henri Fischer
  • Patent number: 10021895
    Abstract: A method of coating a wide variety of foodstuffs with tasty marshmallow material simply by enclosing foodstuffs with marshmallows in the same container that permits gaseous venting, but otherwise secures the enclosed foodstuffs. Microwaving the container for one minute or less causes the marshmallow, responding to the microwaves, to radically expand many times its original size. The expanding marshmallow quickly and conveniently coats the secured foodstuffs in the container with a layer of marshmallow material to produce a tasty food treat. The addition of a stick or other handling means is highly desirable, as is a means of easily extracting the food treat from the enclosure and aids in keeping hands clean while eating the food treat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Inventor: Donald Lee Darnell
  • Patent number: 10005604
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container for a pressurized beverage, in particular beer, comprising a casing of a thermoplastic material, a valve part for dispensing the beverage from the container, and an expandable device holding a compressed gas or a gas generating system for expanding the device during or after filling the container to compensate for an increase in the volume of the container resulting from creep in the thermoplastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: EUROKEG B.V.
    Inventor: Hubert Joseph Frans Hanssen
  • Patent number: 9963726
    Abstract: A food product comprises an oligosaccharide composition that is digestion resistant or slowly digestible. The oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises producing an aqueous composition that comprises at least one oligosaccharide and at least one monosaccharide by saccharification of starch, membrane filtering the aqueous composition to form a monosaccharide-rich stream and an oligosaccharide-rich stream, and recovering the oligosaccharide-rich stream. Alternatively, the oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises heating an aqueous feed composition that comprises at least one monosaccharide or linear saccharide oligomer, and that has a solids concentration of at least about 70% by weight, to a temperature of at least about 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Harrison, Andrew J. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9957537
    Abstract: A food product comprises an oligosaccharide composition that is digestion resistant or slowly digestible. The oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises producing an aqueous composition that comprises at least one oligosaccharide and at least one monosaccharide by saccharification of starch, membrane filtering the aqueous composition to form a monosaccharide-rich stream and an oligosaccharide-rich stream, and recovering the oligosaccharide-rich stream. Alternatively, the oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises heating an aqueous feed composition that comprises at least one monosaccharide or linear saccharide oligomer, and that has a solids concentration of at least about 70% by weight, to a temperature of at least about 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Harrison, Andrew J. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9943086
    Abstract: Disclosed are sugar reduced aerated confections. The confections essentially comprise a first heterogeneous continuous phase including a structured amorphous saccharide, a second discontinuous phase including a multiplicity of gas cells. The first heterogeneous continuous phase includes a multiplicity of crystals distributed evenly throughout also including about 1%-35% by dry weight basis of a non-hydrated polysaccharide filler ingredient preferably starch in the form of discrete particles evenly distributed through the continuous phase having a mean particle size distribution of preferably less than 150 microns. The confectionery food products find particular suitability for use as ingredients for reduced sugar children's RTE cereals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Susan L. Kamper, Fern A. Panda, Daniel R. Green
  • Patent number: 9932168
    Abstract: A pod containing one or more beverage ingredients is provided, where the pod comprises a generally rigid outer member (12) with an open top and an outlet opening in the bottom, with an internal filter (16) adjacent a bottom portion of the outer member, one or more beverage ingredients disposed above the filter, and a lid (14) closing the open top. The outer member has an outer peripheral sidewall (20) defining the open top and extending downwardly from the open top toward the bottom portion and inwardly converging toward the outlet opening. The bottom portion of the sidewall defines a plurality of ribs (36) extending inwardly in the interior of the outer member toward the outlet opening. Beverage outlet flow paths are disposed between adjacent ribs and directed toward the outlet opening. The filter is supported above the outlet opening and the beverage outlet flow paths by the ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Andrew Hansen
  • Patent number: 9877493
    Abstract: A producing method of an aging delaying material for fruits or vegetables has steps of: adding and blending a silicon material, with the silicon material having porous structures or layer structures; gradually adding an ethylene reducing material and water or solvent in the silicon material during blending; and gradually removing the water or the solvent during blending until the water or the solvent is partially removed from the silicon material and the ethylene reducing material to form a dry mixing powder which is able to postpone fruits or vegetables becoming over mature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: PLASTICS INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CENTER
    Inventors: Hsiang-Jung Tseng, Chia-Hsiang Peng, Ming-Hsien Sung
  • Patent number: 9868969
    Abstract: A food product comprises an oligosaccharide composition that is digestion resistant or slowly digestible. The oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises producing an aqueous composition that comprises at least one oligosaccharide and at least one monosaccharide by saccharification of starch, membrane filtering the aqueous composition to form a monosaccharide-rich stream and an oligosaccharide-rich stream, and recovering the oligosaccharide-rich stream. Alternatively, the oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises heating an aqueous feed composition that comprises at least one monosaccharide or linear saccharide oligomer, and that has a solids concentration of at least about 70% by weight, to a temperature of at least about 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Harrison, Andrew J. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9861106
    Abstract: A system is provided for producing gluten-free, vegan products at an industrial level. In one implementation, a vat system (200) includes a paddle assembly (202), a blade assembly (206) and steam-lined kettle (210). Whole grains and water are added in a certain order to the vat and heated to cook the mixture. As the mixture is cooking, the blade assembly (206) chops the grain and the paddle assembly (202) mixes the grains and water into a specific texture. The result is a cooked grain product that can be used like a dough in forming a variety of baked goods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Mary's Gone Crackers, Inc.
    Inventor: Mary Waldner
  • Patent number: 9821950
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a container (C) for the preparation of flowable food or beverage compositions, adapted to be functionally inserted in a food or beverage preparation machine (M), said container comprising walls defining at least one cavity (27) for containing at least one precursor ingredient, and a dispensing channel (15) through which the food or beverage composition can flow to a consumer receptacle, characterized in that it further comprises a foaming whisk element (29) located at least partially into the dispensing channel (15) so as to be able to whip said product when the latter exits said channel (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Christian Talon
  • Patent number: 9814345
    Abstract: A technique for preparing baby formula includes containing an amount of powdered formula, premeasured to provide a single serving of baby formula, containing an amount of water, premeasured to provide at least a single serving of baby formula, heating the water, and dispensing both the premeasured formula and the water for providing a single serving into a bottle or other vessel when the water reaches a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Miravan, LLC
    Inventors: Miriam Kutcher, Evan Kutcher
  • Patent number: 9795159
    Abstract: A method of popping popcorn in batches/cycles. A sensor on a popcorn popping machine senses pops of popcorn in the kettle. A system computer controller monitors the rate of popping sensed by the sensor and uses the beginning of the decline in the rate of popping as a basis for controlling heat to the kettle during a given cycle/batch. Activation of the dump mechanism, which terminates the popping cycle/batch, is initiated when the computer controller detects a predetermined programmed minimum count rate after the heat has been turned OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Valley Popcorn Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale M. Cherney, Richard D. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 9730459
    Abstract: Dough compositions that can be baked to provide baked articles (e.g., cinnamon rolls) having an extended shelf life of about 7 days or greater (e.g., about 14 days, about 21 days, or about 28 days or greater). The dough composition may be a developed dough compositions or an under-developed dough compositions. The dough compositions may include one or more shelf life enhancing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Soumya Roy, Madonna M Ray, Jean L Weber
  • Patent number: 9725232
    Abstract: A beverage brewing product for brewing a sweetened beverage is disclosed which produces a sweetened beverage solution that can be mixed with a diluting liquid and which comprises at least one water permeable sieve wherein beverage material and granulated sweetener are contained. The beverage material and sweetener are brewed and dissolved during steeping in hot water to produce a sweetened beverage solution. The beverage solution, if concentrated, is then mixed with a proportioned amount of diluting liquid to make a consistently sweet beverage. This beverage brewing product may be used to produce a variety of consistently sweetened beverages, including tea, coffee, and lemonade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Alan Stewart, Adam Paul Stewart
  • Patent number: 9648899
    Abstract: Homeopathic water compositions are described, as well as beverage articles for making drinking water formulations with such compositions. One such beverage article includes a water bottle, and a dispensing cap adapted to be secured to the water bottle. The dispensing cap contains dried homeopathic composition-coated sucrose or sucrose/starch particles that are dispensable into water in the water bottle by user actuation of the dispensing cap, to constitute the homeopathic water formulation for consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ESSENTIALIFE HOMEOPATHICS
    Inventor: Ramin Stephan Bayani